lawmakers approved a historic $680 billion tax-extender package which makes more than 20 tax cuts permanent and extends more than 50 temporary tax provisions that expired in 2014 for more than two years.

On November 5, the Obama administration released the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a recently negotiated trade agreement between the United States, Japan and 10 other Asia-Pacific countries, setting the stage for a divisive fight in Congress.

On October 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), published the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) electronic reporting rule (80 Fed. Reg. 64064). The rule requires electronic reporting in lieu of paper filing and will be effective December 21.

Efforts are underway in Congress to extend through 2016 a number of tax provisions important to the metalcasting industry, including enhanced Section 179 expensing, first year 50% expensing (known as bonus depreciation), the R&D tax credit, and deferral for active financing income.

The measure provides a 21st century regulatory infrastructure for chemical in commerce and provides the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with tools to manage these thousands of chemicals while protecting consumers.

June 2015

The amendment would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to conduct additional reviews and research before it could finalize the agency’s comprehensive silica rulemaking, which is scheduled to be released in 2016.

The Ratepayer Protection Act would protect families and businesses from significant electricity rate increases or reduced electric reliability that may result from EPA’s pending regulations for existing power plants, commonly referred to as the “Clean Power Plan.”

Several final and proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules of interest to the metalcasting industry are expected to be published in the next few months, according to the agency’s spring regulatory agenda, released in May.

Previously unregulated ephemeral as well as intermittent and perennial streams received Clean Water Act protections under a joint final rule released Wednesday, May 27, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

May 2015

The bill, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015 (H.R. 880) would permanently extend the R&D tax credit retroactive to January 1, 2015, and enhance the alternative simplified credit (ASC) formula to 20 percent from the current 14 percent rate.

The Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act would improve the rulemaking process involved with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) review and setting of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground level ozone by requiring better scientific data, more transparency and considerations of feasibility and economic impact.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing, “The Importance of MAP-21 Reauthorization: Perspectives from Owners, Operators, and Users of the System,” on Wednesday, Feb. 25, regarding the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

January 2015

The U.S. Congress continues to have a strong interest in reforming the current tax code. Lawmakers are already laying the groundwork for their proposals for individual, business and international tax reform in the new Congress.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Ohio State University, has released a risk assessment concluding that silica-based spent foundry sands from iron, steel and aluminum metalcasting facilities, when used in certain soil-related applications, are protective of human health and the environment and yield environmental benefits.